The Somerset reporter., 1887-12-07
SELECTED.
LIVING A STORY.

Mr.. Howard Sidney was just unlock
ing his box at the postotlice when h,
heard a child'S voice say, with the usua
/ beggar's Whim:
please. sir give me two cents to bu.
some coal
/ Mr.. Sidney could never resist the temp
tation to tcasc, SO he said
You cant buy coal for two cents, cal
YOU"
oh, yes, sir; down to Tommy Dolans
| He'll give you more than Jimmy Snike
will"
is that so? | must 20 to Mr.. Dolal
and lay in my winter supply, then
The address of letter caught his eye
and he turned aside to open it. The lit
tie beggar began again in the same whm
please, sir, give me two cents5"
lie turned quickly, and said with noel
gravity;
Excuse me, my child; but yoI
shouldn't whine just step up like any
young lady and say; viii you pleas,
give me two cents Say it i'll a quiet
dignilcd manner, and guess you'll gc
the two cents. Say it now
The child hardly knew whether he wa,
in fun or in earnest, but she said it aftrl
him, and he gravcly handed her two bright
pennies. She stood looking at item II,
they lay in her hand.
"Well, what is it, he asked
"PlcaSe, il, they shine So" She said
and looked mp into his face with hap
piness.
And 50 the young lady has an eye fol
the beautiful. Do You know where
Woodsde Isl | live there. You CONF
there tomorrow morning if you happen
to he making calls in that vicinity, and
I'll give you some more pennies, and
NAV be a bunch of raisinS, if happen to
good-natured. VIII You favor me with a
CALI
''Yes, sir" said the child; and again
She looked at the bright pennies and up
into his face. and smiled as if some great
happeness, unhrard of before has light
cd down upon her.
Mr.. Sidney went home and read his
letters and forgot all about the little girl,
till the next morning his man John came
to tell him that IL child was at the back
door, who said he told her to come,
John, said MIR. Sidney. when a
young lady does me the honor to call
please show her into the parlor at once.
John was accustomed to his masters
whims, SO he went out with ii well sup
pressed smile, while Mr., Sidney made a
hasty collection of all the stray pennies
in his pockets.
Good morning, he said, as the child
appeared at the door. She smiled, but
said nothing.
"Ncry good he said Il like your
smile better than the society girls gigglc
but, really, you should cultivate YOU
talent for clocution, Say good morning
now, just as | do. Yes; that's right.
Now, here are some pennies, bright, every
one of them. Put them in your pocket.
and here are some raisins and cakes.
These are for yourself; the pennies,
presume, Will he laken away from you
by the old woman who stole you from
your wealthy parents, and send You to
beg
"old Bcttys zone to Jail said tn,
child, Watching Mr.. Sidnry's face as if
ii had some great satisfaction for h,r.
"Exccllcnt.' said Mr.. Sidney. "Ths
is coming cut finely. For common.
place man like me to find he's living in a
story book is simply charming. There 5
Away a stolen child an old woman who
gets to fighting and gets killed. You say
this one was sent to Jail? Well that's Il
pleasant variety. The next thing is that
the child is adopted by some wealthy
young man who finally marrics her.
Really, in all the interests of literature,
you ought to fine some one to adopt you,
aud finish out the story. 1t is extremely
interesting
The child still looked at him regardless
of her cakes, ana he said:
Eat your cake, | beg you, while | con-
slider an important question. That story
ought to be finished, and I've half Il
mind to do ii myself. I'm not at so ven
cradle an age | have money enough.
Yes, | think I'll do it. can fill the bill
nicely, and beside it ought to be done in
the interest of literature | shan't marry
you, though, and you needn't expect that /;
tut I'll give you to the houSekccpcr, and
shell teach you what She knows, and
send you to school, and you shall have a
chance TO make something of Yourself
II won hurt me to do little good once
in quarter of century, especially if
Mrs. Jones las all the trouble of it. But
forgct-hayc you any objection to
Woodsidc a a place of resi- ;enceE In
other words, should you like to come
here to live
The child looked at him to see if he was
in earnest, and said:
"Shall have to 90 for rum
"Wcl, no, my friend" he answered.
81 hardly think you will II ! should
want anything in that line, | have aman
here in the house whose business it is to
supply ii but may mention confidential
" to you that never drink it by the
way, may ask your nane;'
They cali me Egg Marcan, She said
Egg, Egg, said Mr. Sidney. IL sup
pose that means Byzantine, Would yon
have the Kindness to have Byzantine
Marean' engraved ON visiting cards.
In this absurd way was Byzantine
Marran introduced into her new home,
for this whimsical man was really in